Tag: MAV TV American Real 500

A comeback from a violent crash and a last-minute scramble to make an engine change before qualifications may sound like a carefully crafted TV script, but those were the cards Josef Newgarden and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) were dealt at the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series season finale in Fontana, Calif.

While SFHR worked to overcome the weekend’s challenges, the ‘INDYCAR 36’ production crew was in their shadow to capture the drama. Fans can see the action for themselves on Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network.

Newgarden broke his left index finger in a crash with Sebastien Bourdais in the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma on August 26th and was forced to sit out the race prior to Fontana while his finger healed.

“In Fontana, we had a huge backstory for the episode with Josef’s finger injury in Sonoma,” said Dan Huber, producer for Newgarden’s ‘INDYCAR 36’ episode. “We were right there with him when he got cleared to drive and saw the physical therapy he had to do to prepare for the grueling 500-mile race.”

The ‘INDYCAR 36’ story continued to unfold when Newgarden climbed into the No. 67 SFHR Dallara/Honda/Firestone car for the first practice session. A part failure supplied by a third-party in the car’s Honda engine kept Newgarden out of the session and called for an engine change by the team.

SFHR had only three hours to change the engine before qualifications, and Newgarden turned no practice laps before he qualified with the new engine.

“I’m excited to see how much of the crew’s hard work shows up in the episode,” Newgarden said. “Fans should really be able to see how much work the team puts in during race weekends to get a solid finish.”

Newgarden went on to earn his best qualification spot of the season and led the first lap of his IZOD IndyCar Series career in the MAV TV American Real 500.

‘INDYCAR 36’ viewers will also get a unique look at the 21-year-old driver’s rapid ascent to the highest rungs of North American open-wheel racing.

“We took some time with Josef’s parents and got to hear some great stories of how Josef’s career got started on a go-kart track just eight years ago,” Huber said. “I wanted to know how hard it was for his parents to send him to Europe at only 17, but I realized after talking to them that it was similar to sending him off to college to train for his dream career, which is auto racing.”

‘INDYCAR 36’ featuring Josef Newgarden and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing will air on NBC Sports Network Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. ET.

Josef Newgarden’s rookie IZOD IndyCar Series season has been a roller coaster ride full of competitive speeds and bad luck, and the season finale MAV TV American Real 500 was no different.

The No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) car got a quick jump off the starting grid from 14th position and climbed to eighth on the first lap.

From there, Newgarden developed rear instability and fell back several positions. He adjusted the No. 67 car’s weight jack from the cockpit and was able to improve the car’s handling before his first pit stop.

On lap 43, Newgarden reported to the team that the No. 67 car had lost power. He coasted into his pit box where it was discovered that an electrical failure had occurred that was outside of the team’s control.

The Tennessee native went nine laps down while the team replaced the part. Due to a series of cautions, he was able to gain three laps back.

Newgarden and the SFHR team then focused on finishing the race and refining the car to gain valuable data for the 2013 season.

“I thought the race was great,” Newgarden said. “The low downforce was tricky, and I wish I could have been part of the front group. It was a shame that we had a problem and were out of the mix early on.”

Newgarden finished the race in 16th having completed 244 of 250 laps.

“It was good that we ran the rest of the race after the problem we had,” he said. “It’s better than not running and it’s great experience for the future.”

Now that his rookie season is in the books, Newgarden and SFHR will focus forward on the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season.

“It’s been a tough year,” Newgarden said. “I think for the off-season we’ll look to apply everything we learned and come out swinging in 2013.”

Owner/driver Ed Carpenter earned his team’s first victory in the MAV TV American Real 500. He edged out Dario Franchitti of Ganassi Racing when a late caution slowed the field on its final lap.

Scott Dixon of Ganassi Racing, Ryan Hunter-Reay of Andretti Autosport and Helio Castroneves of Team Penske completed the top-five. Hunter-Reay’s fourth-place finish was good enough to earn him the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series championship title.

Fellow championship contender Will Power of Team Penske lost control of his car on Lap 56 and made contact with the Turn 2 wall. Power’s misfortune allowed Hunter-Reay to nose ahead of him and take the championship with only a three-point advantage.

Josef Newgarden returned to IZOD IndyCar Series action for the MAV TV American Real 500 qualifications in Fontana, Calif. and proved that the brace on his broken finger will not slow down his No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Honda-powered car.

Despite the brace and a bumpy track, Newgarden qualified the No. 67 Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR) Dallara/Honda/Firestone car in fourth position with a lap of 215.919 mph.

Newgarden’s qualifying result of fourth is the best of the rookie’s young IZOD IndyCar Series career.

The qualifying speed did not come easily, however. In morning practice the Honda engine of the No. 67 car faltered when a part supplied by an outside party failed. Newgarden only turned one practice lap in the No. 67 car before it returned to the garage for an engine change.

“We were pretty flat out in qualifications, and maybe we could have trimmed out a little more,” Newgarden said. “It was hard for us though because we couldn’t come in too aggressive in qualifying after having an issue in practice. We didn’t want to risk too much.”

The No. 67 car will incur a 10-spot grid penalty for the unapproved engine change, but Newgarden thinks it will do little to hinder his chances in Saturday’s race.

“Coming into this race, the team and I talked about how I didn’t want a car that’s going to sit on pole,” he said. “I want a car that’s going to be comfortable, reliable and consistent for the entire race. That’s what we’re focusing on for tomorrow.”

On the IZOD IndyCar Series schedule, the MAV TV American Real 500 is matched in distance only by the Indianapolis 500. Newgarden wants a car that will be strong when the checkered flag waves.

“We want to have a good race car that can run a ton of solid laps,” he said. “If we have that, then we can run up front and compete up front.”

Marco Andretti, of Andretti Autosport, will start on pole for the MAV TV American Real 500. His qualifying average of 216.069 mph narrowly edged out Ryan Briscoe’s two-lap average of 216.058 mph.

Aside from Newgarden in fourth, the top-five in qualifying was rounded out by Will Power in third and Scott Dixon in fifth.

The green flag will drop on the MAV TV American Real 500 at 5:50 p.m. PT on Saturday. The race will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.

That’s the question an injured Josef Newgarden asked himself from the sidelines of the Grand Prix of Baltimore while he watched racing veteran Bruno Junqueira drive the No. 67 car for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (SFHR).

After sitting out for a full race weekend, the 21-year-old rookie driver is ready to reclaim the wheel of the No. 67 car and punctuate his first IZOD IndyCar Series season with a solid result at Auto Club Speedway in Sunday’s MAV TV American Real 500.

Newgarden broke his left index finger in a frightening crash with Sebastien Bourdais on Aug. 26 in the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. The injury required surgery, and he had to hand over the reins of the No. 67 SFHR Dallara/Honda/Firestone car for the next race in Baltimore.

“It was really hard to watch Bruno drive my car in Baltimore,” Newgarden said. “I’ve never been injured inside a race car before and had to sit out while someone else drove my car. It was tough but I learned a lot and can’t wait to get back in.”

After the crash in Sonoma, Newgarden described his finger as “crushed.” Post-surgery, his left index finger has seven screws holding it together.

Despite the extra metal, he says that he and his finger will be ready for the MAV TV American Real 500.

“I think my finger will be fine,” Newgarden said. “It’s been getting better each day, and I think I should be fine in the car to hold on for the oval. That’s not saying ovals are easier than road courses, but it should be easier on my finger.”

It won’t be smooth sailing at Auto Club Speedway, however. Newgarden experienced the track’s bumpy surface in August at a test, and he will test again at the track this Wednesday.

“Auto Club Speedway is very, very bumpy, and the seams of the track are difficult to navigate when you’re changing lanes,” he said. “It’s a really difficult track, probably one of the most difficult ovals I’ve ever been to. It’s going to be a long 500 miles.”

He hopes testing at Auto Club Speedway will give him the extra preparation he needs to ready his car and his finger for the 500-mile race.

“I’m really glad we’re testing this week because we need the track time,” Newgarden said. “A lot of guys have had more testing time than SFHR has this season so, we need to get caught up. Hopefully it will help us have a better result during the race weekend.”

The MAV TV American Real 500-mile race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., will air live on NBC Sports Network, Saturday, Sept. 15 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

• Bionic Man: Josef Newgarden underwent surgery August 28th in Indianapolis to repair his left index finger after crashing with Sebastien Bourdais in the GoPro Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma. Newgarden’s left index finger now has a bone graft, a plate and seven screws. While he has been cleared to drive in the MAV TV American Real 500, his biggest challenge may be clearing airport security with a finger full of metal.

• SFHR’S Good Luck Charm Turns One: Zoey O’Gara, daughter of SFHR co-owner Sarah Fisher and husband Andy O’Gara, will turn one on Thursday, Sept. 13. Zoey will spend her first birthday traveling to Fontana, Calif. with her mom and dad for the MAV TV American Real 500 race weekend. At just two weeks old, Zoey attended her first-ever race last October at Kentucky Speedway where SFHR scored its first win with driver Ed Carpenter. Could Zoey’s milestone birthday be good luck for SFHR in the 2012 season finale?